Charting the future of milling efficiency With a relentless focus on research and development,Tega Industries has introduced world-beating technologies to the market, positioning the company as a dominant player in the global mill liner and wear solutions market. ⎪ Minerals processing and materials handling ⎪ M uch of Tega Industries’ success comes from its close customer engagement and a willing- ness to challenge conventional insights into product innovation. “Discharge systems are too often neglected despite being central to circuit stability. Poor grate design, blockages or inadequate media can create ‘washing machine’ effects where slurry circu- lates without exiting the mill, wasting energy and hammering liners.”
thinking in mineral processing. This was evi- dent at its industry conclave, held recently in Pretoria and attracting over 170 attendees from mines across the world, where a number of speakers provided a clear picture of where the industry is heading and how smarter mill- ing can deliver measurable gains. Tega Industries Africa CEO, Vishal Gautam, opened the event by outlining the financial case for adopting better methods and equip- ment. He argued that milling operations have long been obsessed with availability and ton- nage, but seldom translate those metrics into business value. “We are not here to just supply liners, we are here to help you unlock hidden potential in your plant,” he assured attendees. He made the case for adopting an Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) framework that exposes underutilised assets and inef- ficiencies, not just at the equipment level but across the value chain. For mines operating on tight margins, small percentage improve- ments in mill performance translate directly into millions of Rands saved or earned. The call to action was clear that treating mill optimisa- tion as a strategic business lever rather than a maintenance exercise makes more sense. Continuing on the topic, Professor Aubrey Mainza, Deputy Director of the Centre for Mineral Research, warned that many plant managers continue to operate their mills in the dark. While technologies such as variable- speed drives and modern discharge designs are available, they are often misunderstood or misapplied. He emphasised that volumetric filling – the correct balance of ore, media and water – dictates performance. Too much or too little filling alters the internal dynamics, changing the number of particles in contact with the grinding media and thereby undermining throughput. Training in measured adjustments is far more valuable than relying solely on control systems that only protect the mill. Efficiency is not about buying more equipment, but about disciplined control of filling, discharge, speed, and media, coupled with training operators to think in small, precise corrections. Sumeet Pahi rounded off the session by highlighting how Tega is translating these
As a result, Tega’s research and devel- opment teams have developed optimised discharge designs and wear monitoring tools that not only extend liner life but also stabilise grind conditions. Sumeet explained that in- novation in liner metallurgy, lifter profile and grate configuration must be paired with cus - tomer-specific testing to deliver real results. “Every plant is different and every ore body is different. The answer is not a catalogue product but a collaborative design process.” The conclave included talks and case studies from several specialists and mine operators, including Sandile Nkwanyana of Mintek, Flavio Silva de Moura of Lundin Mining Brazil, Jennifer Giron, ex-senior metal-
Aubrey Mainza of the Centre for Mineral Research emphasised the importance of balancing all aspects of the mill.
lurgist at FQML, who is now working at Tega, as well as Process Manager, Mr Steven Zulu, and Vamumusa Manyathi, who is the Business Development Manager of Tega. The combined expertise painted a clear picture: the era of treating mill liners as con- sumables is over. Tega’s approach of marrying business metrics with technical fundamentals and engineering helps mines unlock hidden efficiencies and improve profitability. www.tegaindustries.co.za
Tega product manager for milliners, Sumeet Pahl, says the company constantly innovates to find solutions for its customers.
Vishal Gautam, CEO of Tega Industries Africa, opens the conclave discussions.
November-December 2025 • MechChem Africa ¦ 25
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